Defining

Well, well, well.... its been about two maybe three years since I've used live journal and I was quite surprised to see my journal was still intact. I figured it would've been de-activated due to a lack of activity, but no!

I read through all my past entries which were posted when I was a senior in high school and damnit I'm such a different person even though I miss those days. Well, I don't miss the girlfriend part, but I do miss those glorious, football playing, carefree days. I actually couldn't believe some of my entries. I cursed a lot and all I could think of is, "people don't want to read this, sh... I mean stuff!!" I don't blame all the people that didn't comment on my journal, because I talked about absolutely nothing relevant. Except, some good songs, maybe, but that's it.

I didn't start this entry with an idea, so I'm just going to update you on the me now as apposed to the high school me.

I attended Michigan State University for four semesters, and then came home to help my father out with his business and decided to take some time off. I wanted to evaluate if going to college and majoring in business was the right path for me. I enjoyed my time at MSU and made some new friends but for the most part I stuck with my high school buddies. It's a great school but not the right fit for me. I had to bounce, plain and simple.

While at MSU and just in my life up to that point I developed (even further) my passion for music, and not just listening but creating it as well. I would say I'm a very polished producer and fairly polished writer as well. Only thing I gotta do now is record an album and get my face out there. I do Hip Hop music for those who wish to know but please don't write me off as one of the artists that you hear on the radio where they claim to play "rap music." I'm much deeper than that. If you're interested check out my two myspace pages: myspace.com/jarsen, myspace.com/smashgordonthump. I have two aliases that play the emcee role and the producer role. First, mr arSen, the lyrical monster and all around fire spitter, and second, Smash Gordon, the superhero producer saving the world one beat at a time. Together they form the group, InvincibleMindState, and that album is yet to be finished. Lots of songs written and beats finished but no recording.

My biggest problem with this music thing is finding my voice. I know we all hate our voice when we hear it played back to us, but I've been listening to myself for almost five years now. Sometimes I love it and others I don't. Recently, I've been having trouble liking anything during my recording sessions. I tried to relate it to something going wrong in my life, and the only thing I can think of is the bad encounter I had with the East Lansing Police Department and the money I owe the court. I didn't necessarily have money I could free up to pay it, so lately that's been on my mind for what seems like forever. I'm planning on recording this weekend, and maybe I'll lay something down I'll want to keep.

On another musical tip, I've been back tracking the type of music I'm listening to now. In other words, instead of finding whats new I've directed most of my attention into discovering old American and British rock bands. Brushing up on my history of the influential and most praised bands of the sixties, seventies and some eighties.

I've fallen in love with The Doors, Queen, and The Police (The Beatles were a given so that's why I didn't mention them even though I am now. ???). There's something about the story of Jim Morrison and The Doors that I just can't get enough of. I love Oliver Stone's rendition of their lives as a band, and I can honestly say I've been watching that movie frequently for the last couple of months (I've lost count of how many times). The Doors are also now my most played band on my Itunes, so you could say they're my favorite.

However.... FUCKING QUEEN!!!! I can hardly believe that band. They had so many influential and mind blowingly good hits! A Night At The Opera is easily one of my favorite albums of all time. Even my little brother, who'll be in eighth grade this fall, loves that album. I'm glad he takes after his older brother and listens to quality music instead of the mindless stuff his peers listen to. It's very disturbing the type of garbage kids are being subjected to in the form of music.

Well, I'll get into that on my next entry because this has gotten lengthy and I can't see how you'd still be interested. So, with that said, Good night.